Kirouac resigns to take new post

Assistant city manager to take job as Oconee County administrator

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Former Assistant City Manager Justin Kirouac has resigned his position with the city to take up the reins as Oconee County administrator. He was already in his new job last week.

“We are excited for Justin,” said Johns Creek City Manager Warren Hutmacher. “From the city’s standpoint, we do not plan to refill the position. We will change our structure a little bit and adjust without him.”

Hutmacher said the changes will be “minor,” and he plans to distribute some of Kirouac’s between himself and assistant city managers Eric Tucker and Kimberly Greer.

“We’re just going to try to be more efficient,” Hutmacher said. “Justin is a very bright, capable and successful person. He has been an efficient assistant and has developed the skills of his profession. He was certainly ready to take on the duties of a county manager’s role. Ultimately he’ll be extremely successful there or anywhere he chooses to go in the future. We’re real proud of him.”

Hutmacher said the departure was a loss for the city because Kirouac was a talented and well liked employee. But this is what happens when you hire good people, he said.

One of the immediate changes has been for Hutmacher to take on oversight of the Recreation and Parks Department from Greer. But the complete realignment of duties has not been sorted out yet.

Kirouac told the Athens Banner-Herald his first order of business will be to lead Oconee in its update of its comprehensive plan for submission to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, as all Georgia counties and cities are required to do.

Oconee County, with a population of around 35,000 people, abuts Clarke County’s southwest border. The county seat is Watkinsville with three other cities: Bogart, Bishop and North High Shoals.

A recent survey of Oconee residents’ chief concerns are a familiar list: dealing with growth, education and quality of life. Among other challenges facing Oconee County is wastewater treatment.